Oil-shale distillation apparatus



Aprii 15 192% H. GRQVES ET AL OIL S HALE DISTILLATION APPARATUS FiledFeb, 4 1921 '7' Sheeizs-$heet 3 andflayifilai n, BY @mid 664mg A mommy;

52 25', 1924, mmma H. GROVES ET AL v OIL SHALE DISTILLATION APPARATUS4173 in duplicate Harry G roves and Baa/5631mm,

v JNVENTORS. 5 7 B 96m 65*. :wm; g 3 TTORNEY.

OIL SHALE DTSTTLLATION APPARATUS Filed Feb 192: 7 Sheets-Sheet Fig. 3

Hariy Graves and Davidflain, JNE/ENTORS.

mi) Md (3 Dam,

AT TORNEY.

H. GROVES ET AL OIL SHALE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4:, 1921 7Sheets-Sheet BY QSQ/Jid 564M22 A TTORNEYZ Ami 15 1924 OIL SHALE DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 4 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet Fig.6

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INVEIJTOR s,

BY @xw/Zd mwmr W 15 192%.; mwm

H. GRQVE$ ET AL OIL SHALE DISTILLATION APPARATUS 7 Filed Feb. 4Q, 1921 7Sheets-Shem v Henry G row-e s andflaviaillain,

mvmrrzms. .BY BMW A T TORNEY.

l mented Apr. i5, @2 3.

HARRY GROVES {1ND DAVID E. LAKE, 6F BELLIZIGEdxRZ; "VAST-HIEGTGN.

OIL-SHELF; DISTILLQATIGN AJFPARATUE.

Application filed February 1921'. Serial 23c.

-,To all whom-it may concern: of Fig. 3 in section on the bent lined.--i,

' Be it known that we, HARRY Gnovss, a Fig.5 is a plan View of s.quadrant of Fig. 1 citizen of the United States, residing at Bclinsection on the line 5 -5, Fig. 6 is the outlingham, in the county ofVVhetcoxn and side elevation of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is the inside 5 State ofWashington, and DAVID E. LAIN, a elevation of Fig. 5, IF ig. 8 is a.side elevuso citizen of the United States, residing at Beltion of one ofthe burners shown in Fig. 5 linghern, in the county of Whatcoin anddrawn onela-rger scelefl igeiseplen cross State of Washington, haveinvented a new section of Fig. 2 on the bent line 9-9, Fig. and usefulOil-Shale Distillation Apparatus, 10 is eplan View of the outer end ofthe con- 10 of which the following isespecificetion. (lensing pipes,Fig. 11 is a side elevation Our invention relates to improvements in ofFig. 10, and Fig. 12 is e plan view of the oil-shale distillationapparatus adapted to gas pump, gas washer and purifier, burning recoverfrom the oil shelesof Colorado and gas storage holder and heating gasstorage Utah, by destructive distillation, the .essenholder, drawn on asmaller scsle.

116 tiel and l'ubricating'oils and tars which they Similar charactersrefer to similar parts cc contain; and the objects of this inventionthroughout. Certein parts are broken sway are: to provide a retort whichwill have a to show others hidden thereby. large capacity for reducingthe rock and be The oil shales of Colorado and Utah by effective andefficient in setting'free the voladestructive distillation yieldproducts simitile constituents of the shale, be adapted ler to thoseobtained from petroleum. in F5 for controllable and continuous movementgeneral: our/apparatus comprises at retort of the shale therethrough, beadapted for which. retains the rock inEthin layer as it mixing the fineand coarse granules of shale passes therethrough, ineunsior keeping theas they enter the retort, be adapted for mixretort evenlvfull of crushedshale end mixiug said granules as they pass through the ing it as itenters, means for drawing out ii-5D retort, be provided with means toprevent the ceilings at e. controllsbl e'rete, means for the entry ofair into the retort with the ore, mixing the shale as it passes throughthe be edaptedfor se crate removal ofthe sevretort, means for heatingitindirectly erel fractions 0 the volatile content, be through theretort walls by burning some of 3c adapted to cause the passege of thecrushed the noncondensing gas "W011 therefrom, rock through the retortin a thin streem meejns for heating it directly by passing while underthe action of heat of controllable superheated noneondensingtheretemperatures, be adapted to use a. so-celled through, means forcarrying. es the several noncondensing gas obtained, during thefractional products of distillation through process, from said rock toheat said rock separate condensing pipes and into sepsrete :3 both byburning, the gas and by heating it receptacles, a pump forforcing thenonend passing itthrough the broken rock to condensing gas through theservice routes, mix with and curry of? the products of dis: and meansfor purifying that pert of the tillation, to provide means to condensethe noncondensing gas used in the burners.

e0 volatile products of'the distillation, except -More particularly; Fposts on hi h 9 said noncondensing gas. to provide for WilSlly;suppgf'ted th Outer m pi or 1 11 ing and purifying the noncondensing"gas and the outer brick well are marked 18. used in the buriiers, toprovide for the has {Two posts on which are supported the inner sage ofsaid n nc ndens g gas int he retort pipe or shell aud t-he inner brickburners and also through the crushed rocli w ll n k d 14 Em @Qlumnshig};-

under controllablepressures. to provide for pport. a circular structureof beams end i the continuous mechanical reni 'wal of tails kg whi hh5g1 aid g gm, 11 I incs'fr m th re r and to provide other end innerbrick wall are marked 15. 16 is ilesireble, convenient, and efiicientfeatures a. base on which rests said columns. 17 is s will more fullyappear. an i beam on posts 14 and bearing hsse l6.

We t a t e Obj t the appare A. set; of l. beams resting on posts 13 areius illustrated in the accompanying seven marked 18 and l. A circularhollow hesni sheets of drawings in which Figures 1, 2 and 2%,} rests oncolumns 15. A circular hollow 3. show three contiguous portions of there beam 21 is concentric with been). 20, to wh ch tort in fronteleVation,'Fig. i isc, plan view it is hy spokes 2 1%, d it cup ioresthe inner retortshell by mounting annular angle bar 22" which isfastened to said shell. 22 is a cireulz hollow beam which supports theouter brick wall. 23 is e hollow annular beam which mounts annular anglebar 26 which is fastened to the outer retort shell. Beams 22 and 23 aremounted on beams 18 and 19. 24 is an annular channel beam mounted on 22and supporting the outer wall of brick. is an annular channel beammounted on beam 20 and sup-- porting: the inner brick wall. 20 is theouter retort shell. 26 is the outwurdh flared upper end of retort wall26. 26 is an annular angle beam fastened to shell and bearing on beam 27is the inner retort wall. 2" is an annular angle beam fastened to Well27 and bearing on bczun 21. 27 is e housing flange around the fractionpipes 179-188. 28, 28 are sixteen similar annular downwardly flared:bellies. each in form n truncated cone. fastened to the inside oliretortwall 26. 20, 20 are sixteen annular downwardly flared buftles, each, inform a truncated cone, fastened to the outside of inner retort wall 27and are in staggered relation with baifies 28. 30, 32, 34., 3c, 40. 42.4.4., 46, 48, 50, 52, 5 1, 56, 58. and 32 are annular reeesses orcl'ieinbers in the outer shell 26 of the retort, they are behind baffles28 and communicate with the retort chamber through an annular slot. atthe bottom, of said bullies. :n. 33. is. 3'7. 19, 41, 13. 4.5, 17, 41-9,51, 55', 57, 59, end 61 are annular recesses or chambers in the innershell 27 of the retort behind lnfiles 220. They oommunicate with theretort chamber through an annular slot at the bottom oi halides 20. anannular recess in wall 20 near its upper end and communicates through anarrow, annular slot with the retort chamber. 04, 04- are peripheralridges in wall 26 at, the juncture of the tops of the truncated coneswhich detern'iine the "form of said well. 65, are.peri 'iherul ridges atthe juncture of the bases of the truncated cones whi'oh determine theform of wall 27. Wall Qdis builtv in live seciionsfwith adjacent"external fienges by which-they are bolted together with gaskets between.Starting: from the bottom these adjacent flanges are marked till-11nd(3T, 72 and 73. 76 and 77. end 80 and 81 respectively. lVall 27 is builtin five sections also. with adjacent external flanges by which the v arebolted together with gaskets between. Starting from the bottom theseflanges are marked 68 and 00. '50 end 71., 74 and 75, and 78 and "(0respectively. 8:2 is a metal cover on top of the inner shell 2?, and hasan outlet into stack 82", eloseble with damper 82 83 is a foot flangefastened on the lower end of inner shell 2?. @n it the column of orefilling libs rel/om chamber rests. is an annular :tastened to well 26,with its brackets 84*, at lower end to provide a slidewey for doors 85.85, 85 are vertically slideable doors in stave relation between slideway84 and wall 26. Each door is provided with 2 lug at its upper end inwhich is a tapped hole for an adjusting screw 85- engeged therein andmounted for revolution in the flange on slideway 81. Doors 85 controlthe opening beneath the lower end of well 26. 86 is a bank of gasburners which together entirely encircles the retort. These burners arelocated in a fire box at the lower end of line 143, and are divided intofour quadrant banks, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. Each burner of thebank is provided with a gas valve 87, and an air inlet 87, making aBunsen burner. 88 is a bank of gas burners located in u firebox at thebottom of line 10:2. They are divided into four quadrant banks, one ofwhich is shown in Fig, 5. Each of these burners has a gas valve 89 andan air inlet pipe 85), making a Bunsen burner. 90 is a gas burnerlocated in central well 102, it is' provided with gas valve 91 and airinlet pipe 91. six sets of quadrant gas burners located in due 101 abovebank of burners 80. One half of set 97 is shown in Fig. 1. Each-.quadrant burner of each of said sets is pro--' vided with one of gasvalves 9297 and one of air-inlet pipes 92"-97". 98 is an annular brickwall footed on beam 25 and forms the inside wall of flue 103 and thewell of well 102. 99 isebrick wall enclosing the retort and formstheouter wall of fine 10 1 and is footed on beam 24. 100 is a metal coverover well 99 and flue 104. It has holes forming outlets from flue 104which can be more or less completely closed by movable slide 101slideble on said cover and having holes regislerable with said holesthrough the cover.

102 is :1 central well within brick wall 103 is the inner flue and isbetween the inner brick wall 98 and the inner retort wall 27. 101 is theouter line and is formed by the outer retort shell 26 and the outerbrick wall 99. Your neerlvsirniler brackets. 105, are each fastened tothe upper end of inner shell 21 and are connected to outer retort shell26 in a vertically.slidable joint at 106. These brackets providebearings for four bevel ,Q'ears 111-. 107 is a receiver for crushedshale. From it leads downward two chutes 10H. The lower ends of thesechutes pass through holes in twmof brackets and deliver ore to hopper109. 109 an annular rcvolvablc hopper mounted-on bevel gears 114-. 110.guidedby rollers 11?. is concentric with and run-rounds inner shell 2?and has a bottom 110. and a dependent spaced partitions 112 subdividesaid table r ce -see Said partitions pass henewtlv the ends of chutes108, overhang bottom and approach shell 27 quite closely. 113 is annulardisc fastened to the bottom of table bottom 110 and extends outward as aflange.

The lower side of its periphery is supplied with bevel gear teethto'eugage with gears.

11 1, 116, three of which, 116, are mounted as idlers on studs inbrackets 105 end the fourth. 114i, is mounted fixed on a. shaft mountedfor revolution in'a hearing on one of brackets 105 and to the outer endof said shaft is fixed pulley 115. A guide roller 117 is mounted forrevolution on a vertical stud in a lug on each of brackets 105 and hearsagainst the cylindrical shell of table 109. 118 is an annular disk withteeth of a bevel gear on the lower side of its periphery mounted onballs on hall race 119 fastened to the lower end of shell 26. Ring 1:20is fastened to said shell above 118 for a top guide. 121 is a scraperi'astened to annular disc 118 with standard 121 and revolves, with saiddisc, close to the top surface of flange 83 to scrape tailings from saidflange. In practice as many of these scrapers are used as desired. Twoare shown in Fig; 1. 122 is .atailings receptacle below the retort largeenough to catch the tailings they are scraped ofi of fiange'83. 123 is ascrew conveyor mounted for revolution in hear-.

ings in the hottomot receptacle. 124i is a pulley on the lowerend of theconveyor shaft. 1242, see Fig. '12, is a heatreggae storage holder, thegrcater part of which is broken away for lack of room for the illustratioi'n supported to hang in water tank 125, by cables over sheaves onposts. One of said cables is shown at 126 one of said sheaves at 127'mounted for revolution in hearings on one of said posts 126. The postsare set upon the wall of Water tank. 125. The Weight of said holder ispartly counterbalanced hy weights fastened to C59 hles 128 one of whichis shown at 12 T he relative 1 Weight of said gas tank and weightsdetermines the pressure under which gasis retained in said holder. 130is a serv ice gas pipe from holder 12 1- and has valve 130. Through asystem of pipes all marked 130 connections are formed to deliver heating gas froin said holder to four quadrant gas heaters forming the frontwall of the fire box. in which operates gas burner- 88. Each oi. fourpipes 130 connects one (if-gas heaters 131 with one of tour quadrant gasheaters 131 which together form the front wall of the tire hex in whichburners 86 operate see also Fig. 5. Each of pipes 1530 through pipe 130delivers heating gas to annular recess 30 in the outer shellwall. 1132is a burning-gas storage holder, see Fig. 12, the greater part of whichis broken away for lack of space for the illustration, supported, tohang in water tank 133,. loy

burners of of burners 9241?.

cables over sheaves on posts. Que of said cables is shown at-136, one.oi said sheaves at 135 mounted in bearings for revolution on one of saidposts 1351. Said posts are set on the wall of the water tanlc. Theweight of said holder is partly counterhalended by weights on saidcables, one of which is shown at 137. The relative weight of said holderand weights determines the pressure at which gas is retained in saidholder. 138 is a service pipe from holdor 132 and has valve 138. Pipe138 through system all of the members of which are similarly martechconnects with each of. tour quadrant gas heaters 139 which together formthe back wall of the fire box for burners 86, and al o connects witheach of the four quadrant gas heaters 140 which together form the heckwall for the firehox for burners S8, with central-well burner 90, andwith each of the four quadrant from each of the four heating gas heaters131 rises a stand pipe 1 11 in line 104. From each of pipes 14:1" pipe14:2 connects with annular recess 32, pipe with recess 34, pipe 14. withrecess 36, pipe with recess 38. pipe 1&6 with recess 10 pipe 1 :7 withrecess 12, pipe 148 with recess 44-, pipe 119 with recess e6, pipe 150with recess 18, pipe 151 with recess 50, pipe 152 with recess 52, pipe153 with recess 54 pipe with recess pipe 155 with recess 58; pipe 156with recess (30, pipe 15'? with recess 62. and pipe with Valve 158 withrecess 63. Four pipes 31 lead from annular recess 31 and connect withcondenser pipe 173. Sets of tour pipes 159-163 respectively lead fromannular recesses 33, 35, 3?, 39 and 4:1 and connect with condenserpipes. 114%178 respectively. Pipes iv;

164;173 respectively lead from annular recesses -13. as, 45, 49,131, 57,59', and G1 to condenser pipes 179-188 respectively.

hilain noncondensing gas pipe 189 connects with the lower end of each ofcondenser pipes 173 and 1174488, hack oftheir traps 173'3 and 174 188respectively, see Fig. 10, and leads through valve 189; to gas pump 1%,see 'l ic. 12, through said pump either through valve 189 into heatedgas holder 124 or tl'irough valve 189" into gas washer 190. through saidwasher into pipe 191, which haulsinto gas purifier 192. through saidpurifier into pipe 193 which leads into burning holder 132. 19% is awater pipe which through valve-191 leads into Washer 190. 1.95 is a gaspump in main noncondensing gas line 189 and has pulley 196 for beltconnection to a primimover not'shown.

In operation: Properly crushed and screened oil shale is delivered toreceiver- 10'? iusullieient quantities .to maintain chutes 108 full atall time. Belts from a prime mover, not sl own. continuously revolvcpulleys 115, 118 and 196 inane taining operation of the revolving hopperthem from the flange and they are caught Ell thcrethrough.

in the receptacle beneath whence they are carried to the dump byconveyor 12?),Wl110l1 is revolved by a belt from a prime mover on pulley12%. The rate of movenienvof the ore down through the retort chamber isdetermined by the height of the door opening, the number of scrapers andthe rate of their movement, all of which are under control.

As the ore moves down through the re tort it is somewhat mixedand-loosened by being carried from side to side by the crooked course ofthe chamber, but it is more positively stirred by passing the ends ofthe conical bellies since particles leaving these pass into. positionsnearly in the middle of the chamber. 1 he retort chamber is made asnarrow as is .compaeible with free downward movement of the ore.

A supply of noncondensing gas is maintained in gas .sto ago holders 124and .132. Gas pun'io 195 is continuously operated, creating a vacuum inpipe 189 and forcing the gas therefrom into said tanks. The gas goinginto holder 1% is not cleaned while that reaching; holder 132 has firstpassed through Washer 190 and purifier 192 Where it is cleansed. Thisclean gas is supplied to hurners 86, 88, and 9297 under the desiredpressure. The gas burning at burners 86 and 88 heats gas heaters 131131", 139 and H0 and heats bot-h walls ot the retort. burned in saidburners is increased by the heat received in passing through heaters4.39 and 14:0.

Burner 90 maintains the temperature in central well 102 sufficiently toprevent condensation in the products-pipes passing Burners 92-97reinforce burners 8G in heating the outer shell of the retort and aid inlocalizing temperatures. As shown. the means for heating the contents ofthe retort indirectly can be varied,

at will, both as to temperatures and dis tribution thereof. The amountof air served the burners is controllable hy the shutters at theentrance of the air inlets. If desired, air for the burners can besupplied through a single system of pipes under pressure.

llncleaned. noncondensing gas. for the purposes of this descriptioncalled heating gas. is supplied by holder 12;. under any desiredpressure, to heaters 131 and 13 The effectiveness of the gas Where it issuperheated and. from where it passes into the annular recesses in theouter shell. FY0111 them it passes through the shale in the retortchamber, heatingthe some and carrying oil with it the products of thedistillation, being set free. into the annular recesses in the innershell and from there into the-several condenser pipes. 111 these pipesthe heater gas and the noncondcnsable pui'tof the products remaingaseous and pass through the gas pump either into tank 124 iorallifl asdesired. able portions or" said products enter Ilic traps at thecondenser pipes ends and are drawn oil at said pipes cndsinto theseveral receptacles prepared for the several fractions of said productsof distillation.

The character of the product passing from said condensers is kept underconstant observation, and on it depends the several adjustments in theapparatus and operation thereof that may nficttsaid chanictei'. .lt isnow understood that the segregation of the products outlets in theretort shell and the easy control of temperatures at those outlets makefractioning of said products in our apparatus easily possible.

Heating gas forced through valves 158 near the top of the retorttilli;the voids in the ore mass as it enters said retort and prcvents air frompassing down into the retort chamber with the ore. Enough gas isadmitted through said valves to be barely noticeable at the flared and26 ot' the outer shell.

During cold weather air cooling is ordinarilysutlicient for thecondenser pipes. But, owing to the quantity of noncondcnsing usedtorheating, in the w: Weather the condcnsingpipcs are put. through brinemaintained at u low temperature by refrigerating pipes therein in thewell known manner.

The condom.

Washer 190 and. purifier 192 are well known devices used in themanufacture of as prepared for domestic lighting and lieeting andrequire no detailed disclosiues.

Having thus i'ully disclosed our invention. What We claim as'new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is.-- 1. In combination. on inner,vertical retort shell having a plurality of 12 s chum-- hers. an outer.vertical retort shell having a plurality of chambers facing: saidchambers in said inner shell. means for heating one of said retortshells. conduits leading from each of snide-as chambers in said heatedshell to a gas supply. conduits leading from each of said gas chambersin said other shell to a condenser, and

means whereby gas is caused to flow from.

broken shale between said inner and outer i retort shells, into said gaschamber in said till till

eme-es other retort shell and thence into said condenser pipes. l

2. In combination, an inner, vertical retort shell having, a pluralityof annular grooves-in its outer wall; an outer. vertical retortshell,concentric with said inner shell. having a plurality of annular groovesin its inner wall facing said grooves in said inner shell and instaggered relation therewith; a downwardlyfiaring, annular. baille'fastened to each of said shell walls above each of said annular groovesto be in front of the same.;'rneans' to heat one of said retort shells;conduit connections between each of the grooves in said heated shell toa source of gas supply; and conduit connections from each of saidg'rooves in said other shell to a condenser.

3. In combination, a vertical retort com prising an inner angl an-outershell, means adapted to support said shells in concentric relation, arevolvahle annular hopper nountr ed for revolution on top of said retorthava ing a hollow cylindrical outletv prmectui within saidretort"concentric with an,

.sp'aced from saidinner shell, a plur'ality' of radial, vertical bladesfixed in said hopper with their inner ends projecting over said hopperoutlet to juxtaposition with said inner shell. means to revolve said hopper, means adapted to heat one of said retort shells, and means wherebyhot gas is caused to How through openings in the walls of said eatedshell, transversely through and mom; broken shale in said retort and toand through openings in the other retort shell i 4. In combination, avertical retort cornprising; an inner and an outer shell, an exterior,fian ge fixed'on the lower end of said inner shell eid'endin; beyondsaid outer shell, means adapted to support said shells in concentricrelation with the lower end of saidcuter'shell spaced above said flange.a plurality of gates mounted for vertical movement on the lower end ofsaid outer -shell as an extension of the same above said flange, aplurality 0t scrapers mountet for revolution around 'the vertical axisof said outer shel o er the upper surface of said flange, means torevolve said scrapers, means 'to maintain said retort full of brokenshale, and means whereby hot gas is caused to flow through openings inthe Walls of said shell. into and among and transversely through brokenshale in said retort and to and through openings in said other retortshell. I

5. In a retort comprising: two, circular, concentric, vertical shellswith an intervening retort chamber, the combination of said retortshells; a plurality ofjpipes connected outer shell leading into saidchamb r,

' a plurality to said inner shell leading from said chamher; a pluralityof pipes connected to said ,ip'es connected to said chamber atvertically spaced locations in staggered relation; and means whereby hotQ as is caused to flow through said pipes connected to one shelltransversely through said retort chamber and among broken shale thereinand into and through said pipes connected toeaid other shell.

#6. In a retort the combination of an inher retort wall comprisingseries of hollow truncatedcones joined alternately top to top andbasevto base with an annular groove at the junction of each pair ba'sesand having an annular bafile pendant inlffront of said groove acontinuation of. said upper of said pair or cones; an outer retort wallcomprising'a series oil hollow truncated cones joined in pairsalternately top to' top and base to base, said retort chamber being o'fisubstantially zigzag, vertical cross section. said outer wall having anannular groove at the junction of each pair of the tops of saidtruncated cones and having an annular 'bafi'le pendant in front of saidgroove, which is an extension of the walls of said upper of the pa r ofsaid Til of said trui icat'ed cones; and conduit connections from eachof said annular grooves.

7. In combination, a vertical retort comprising an nner and an outershell, means adapted to support said shells in concentric relation. a'revolvable annular hopper mounted for revolution on top of said retortand having a hollow cylindrical outlet projecting within said retort,concentric with and spaced from said inner shell, a, plurality ot-radialblades fixed vertically in said hopperwith their inner ends projectingover said hopper outlet to juxtaposh tion with said inner retortshellgand means adapted to revolve said hopper.

8.ln combination. a vertical retort cornprisinp; an inner and an out-ershell, an en terior flange fixed on-the lower end of said inner shcllextending beyond said outer shell. means adapted to support said shellsin concentric relation with an intervening retort chamber and with thelower end of said outer shell spaced above said flange, of gates mountedFor vertical. movement on the lower end of said outer shell as anextension of the same above said flange. a plurality of scrapersinonnted for revolution around the vertical axis of said retort over theupper surface of said.

nanny GRQVES, DAVID E. Lani".

